2000 KIA Sephia

By Bob Storck

Kia has spent most of the nineties building a dealer network and credibility through an ad campaign comparing Sephia reliability with Corolla. Now Hyundai owns Kia and they have changed ad agencies and that makes their future plans questionable.

Kia has fallen prey to the vagaries of the Korean economy, and had to get Hyundai backing to survive, but US management is continuing with their expansion plans and planned minivans and sport utes.

Sephia is greatly improved in quality, and priced more like an economy car. There is nothing flashy about the Sephia. True to their Ford contacts, they licensed the original single-overhead-cam engine from Mazda, but developed their own twin-cam powerplant for the completely reworked Sephia introduced last year. The extra 30 hp makes it a much more desirable car, and the addition of dual airbags satisfies the consumer safety interest.

The suspension is fully independent with front and rear anti-roll bars – good features often overlooked on smaller cars. The interior is well laid out – tasteful but not plush. Obviously the main attraction will be the price, and with the emphasis on power and safety, buyers will find it an appealing package.

For a complete review, read: 2000 KIA SEPHIA Proven Durability And Value Pricing Make Sephia Worth Serious Consideration by Bob Storck.